C5 sign off with Europa League bonanza

Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond would
no doubt have raised a glass at his lavish birthday bash in Old
Billingsgate last night to celebrate both Manchester clubs dropping into
the Europa League.

His TV network will receive a
considerable boost in advertising and ratings from United and City
appearing on the channel, who have first pick of matches for every
round.

But the great irony is that Desmond
is winding down his Europa League commitment, which is in the last
season of a three-year deal. The station did not even make a bid for the
next contract, which has gone to ITV4.

Boost: Desmond

C5, who paid £17million for their
Europa League coverage, did not consider the tournament offered enough
profile or value for money.

But the presence of United will now
practically ensure the station beat their record Europa League peak
audience of 6m when Fulham reached the 2009 final.

Desmond’s lack of interest meant ITV4
were able to snap up Europa League rights for a knockdown price of £11m
that gives them first and second picks from the start of the 2011-12
season.

The Manchester giants moving to C5
won’t trigger any change in the TV team of presenter Jim Rosenthal,
pundits Stan Collymore and Pat Nevin and co-commentator Graham Taylor.

But just when C5 are running down the
clock on their football, the station are showing extra interest in
boxing through a tie-up with promoter Mick Hennessy.

The double eviction of United and
City might curb the noticeable increase in mentions of all things
Manchester on Radio 5 Live since relocating to Salford. A spokesman
said: ‘It’s not editorial policy.’ Despite the BBC snubbing the FA’s
England and FA Cup TV tender, 5 Live are expected to renew their
contract.

England get green light

England's proposed Euro 2012 warm-up against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin can now go ahead. UEFA agreed to allow tournament finalists to play each other in the month before the event, provided they are not in the same group.

Royal humour

Joker: Prince William

It has emerged that FA president Prince William provided some light relief on the eve of the murky 2018 World Cup vote.

As Prime Minister David Cameron prepared to meet one of the double-dealing FIFA executive members to discuss a Sun front-page letter to FIFA, the Prince jokingly advised: ‘If all else fails, show him Page Three.’

No proof

Chelsea's inquiry into a complaint from an executive club member that one of their fans, sitting in the best seats, had allegedly shouted racial abuse at Daniel Sturridge in the Champions League match at Genk has been unable to find proof that the comments were made.

The 16 Chelsea supporters sitting in that particular area were all interviewed. These did not include businessmen Peter Harrison and Sir Martin Broughton, who Sports Agenda reported were among the Chelsea travelling support in Belgium. We are happy to clarify that there was no intention to suggest either individual was in any way involved.

Stadium starts lap two

The new tender for the troubled Olympic Stadium is due to be launched today by the Olympic Park Legacy Company. It will seek to attract West Ham as tenants, as well as a major events company to stage concerts. It will also give West Ham the option of buying the ground further down the line — with the proviso that they retain a permanent athletics track.

However, the possibility of Leyton Orient moving in as well has been ruled out by owner Barry Hearn. He said: ‘I don’t dislike my fans enough to move them into a venue not fit for football. If there’s a running track we’re not interested.’

Media studies

One headache for the organisers of the three-day ‘Black Chariot’ exercise preparing for any 2012 Games emergency has been anticipating what misfortune will really grab the attention of the media.

One dress rehearsal concerned the response to a horse dying during the equestrian event at Greenwich Park.